NOTE: If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, May 23, 2016. Lines are limited and are given out on a first come, first served basis, subject to possible reassignment to accommodate persons who must appear in a proceeding. Ultimately, if you wish to participate in the Commission Meeting and a line is not available, you may have to appear in person.

NOTE: To listen to the Commission Meeting live please go to the PUC's website www.puc.sd.gov and click on the LIVE link on the home page. The Commission requests persons who will only be listening to proceedings and not actively appearing in a case listen via the web cast to free phone lines for those who have to appear. The Commission meetings are archived on the PUC's website under the Commission Actions tab, Click on “Commission Meeting Archives,” to access the recordings.

NOTE: Notice is further given to persons with disabilities that this Commission meeting is being held in a physically accessible place. If you have special needs, please notify the Commission and we will make all necessary arrangements.

AGENDA OF COMMISSION MEETING

Administration

1. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on April 27 and May 10, 2016 (Staff: Joy Lashley)

Previously, in Docket TC13-027, the Commission waived certain ETC requirements, including its June 1, 2013, deadline, in light of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) new annual reporting requirements. The Commission voted to waive the June 1 deadline as set forth in ARSD 20:10:32:52 and allow ETCs to file their annual certification petitions on or before July 1. With respect to ARSD 20:10:32:54(1), the Commission found that if an ETC is filing a five-year plan with the FCC and the Commission, that ETC is not required to file a two-year plan pursuant to the Commission's rule. All other ETCs must continue to file their two-year plans. With respect to ARSD 20:10:32:54(2), the Commission found that all ETCs are still required to file progress reports on their previously filed service quality improvement plans; however, the minor differences in this provision as compared to the FCC's similar progress report provision are waived. With respect to ARSD 20:10:32:54(4) and (5), the Commission waived the portions of these subdivisions that are not consistent with the federal requirements. With respect to ARSD 20:10:32:54(8) and (9), the Commission waived these requirements in their entirety. On March 26, 2014, the South Dakota Telecommunications Association filed a letter seeking clarification to confirm that the previous Order remains in effect and will be deemed applicable to the 2014 state ETC certification process. At its April 16, 2014, meeting, the Commission clarified that the terms of its previous order are still in effect and are applicable to the 2014 ETC certification process. At its March 31, 2015, meeting, the Commission clarified that the terms of its previous order were still in effect and are applicable to the 2015 ETC certification process. On May 12, 2016, Staff filed a letter opening this docket and requesting clarification as to how the companies should proceed in 2016.

TODAY, shall the Commission revise or waive any of its ETC requirements regarding certifications to the FCC for 2016? OR, how shall the Commission proceed?

On April 20, 2016, NorthWestern Corporation, dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) filed an Application for Approval of Tariff Revisions to its Bill Format and Sample Forms for its South Dakota Electric Rate Schedule. Sample forms being modified include disconnect notices and other customer notices. The bill format change will impact all of NorthWestern's electric customers and the letter changes will impact only customers receiving such notification. NorthWestern's proposed effective date for the tariff revisions is June 1, 2016.

TODAY, shall the Commission approve NorthWestern's tariff revisions with an effective date of June 1, 2016?

On April 20, 2016, NorthWestern Corporation, dba NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) filed an Application for Approval of Tariff Revisions to its Bill Format and Sample Forms for its South Dakota Gas Rate Schedule. Sample forms being modified include disconnect notices and other customer notices. The bill format change will impact all of NorthWestern's natural gas customers and the letter changes will impact only customers receiving such notification. NorthWestern's proposed effective date for the tariff revisions is June 1, 2016.

TODAY, shall the Commission approve NorthWestern's tariff revisions with an effective date of June 1, 2016?

Items for Commission Discussion

Announcements

The PUC offices will be closed Monday, May 30, 2016, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

The next regularly scheduled commission meeting will be Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. CDT in Room 413 at the State Capitol, Pierre, S.D.

Commissioners and staff will attend the Mid-America Regulatory Conference Annual Meeting, June 12-15, 2016, at the Radisson Hotel, Bismarck, N.D.